Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-25
T0PAVEHER STREETS
SUCH AN ORDINANCE PASSED BY THE
MANCHESTER COUNCIL.
Changes Made and Reconsidered and the
Original Paper Adopted-Masonic
officers Installed, &C.

Council was held last night. Present al
roll-caIl Messrs. J. X. Perdue (president,
c. \. Jones, B. F. Faulconer, a. c. Jones,
Hugh l.. Kidd, George q. Ely, Jonn
Perry, John +. Hewlett, James F. Brad
ley, L. W. Welsiger, and John 0'Brien.
II being bnown that the paving ordl'
pauci, in which much interest was ielt'
would be considered, there were a large
number OF tax payers present.
President Perdue stated that the hrSt
matter OF unfinished business was the ordi-
nance providing for the paving OF the SIDE
walks and curbing and gutteriug the streets
OF the city, which was under consideration
when the Council at its regular meeting ad-
journed 10 meet again last night. Ass0me
members desired TO confer with reference
to the matter he would first read other pa
pers lying on his table.
"COoL SPRINGS" PARK.
A communication was read from Mr..
James +. Bradley. chairman Of the Com
mttee on Streets, saying that he had pur.
chased. subject to confirmation by the
Council, a pant OF the "Cool SPRING
SQUARE at S3 per flont foot, and that he
had obtained similar option on the entire
property there, amounting to 22i feet
front. This property belongs 10 the estate
OF Colonel II. {. Cabell. The remaining
half Of the square is owned by the city.
and IL Is thought that at a small cost tle
whole square might he converted into m
attractive public park. The paper was re-
fcrred.
BUILD HER A FENCE.
The street Committee reported that they
had ordered the printing OF 100 copies OF
the street paving ordinance, at cost OF
Sj, as il had been materially changed since
il was last under consideration; also, re-
commencing that the city build fence on
Fourteenth street for the benefit OF Mrs.
Ann Ferguson, whose fence was entirely
DESTROYED on account OF the grading OF
said street. The report was adopted.
THE PAVING ORDINANCE.
Mr.. Bradley called up the street paving
ordinance. which. he said. had been so
changed by the street Committee since ii
was last considered by the Council that he
thought it was as near perfect As 1t could
be gotten. and he thought it would SUIT
every taxpayer. The subject had been
considered by the committee at a meeting
to which the public were invited, but
! there were not many present. lie
| hoped this or some other Ordl-
nance by which the streets Of the city will
be paved would be passed. He felt great
interest in the city and wanted TO see her
improving and keeping pace with the
times.
President Perdue read the paper through.
ADOPTED BY SECTIONS.
Mr.. Bradley moved that the ordinance be
| adopted by sections. The preamble, pro-
viding that the expense shall be borne by
the persons whose property i benefited,
and sections ! and ,. providing thar lbe
work shall be done with.the best mltefiu
under the direction Of an engineer Sc
| lccicd for the purpose, and that the eX-
pcuse OF grading shall be borne by me
city, were adopted, only J. +. Hewlett
voting no"
TIE THIRD SECTION.
Mr.. Perdue (NIr. Bradley I'm the chair
said that he thought the third section very
complicated, aud that he felt sure that ITS
workings would be Impractcable II not
impo,>ible. He suggested that the ordi-
nance be- made to apply only to streets rum
ing parallel with HUI, as the pro-rata ar
rangcmout for paying for the cross streets
would entail intcrmuable trouble and con-
| fusion.
Me,srs. 4. G.. Jones and E. W. Wei,igcr
! both favored the section.
The vote resulted: Ayes. 8; noes. =
| Mr.. a. {. Jones not voting.
MR.. PULIIAM HEARD.
Mr.. David l.. Pulilm, the Trainer OF the
ordinance, being present, and 1t being Su--
! ce,ied thai he might be able TO explain The
| section to the satisfaction OF hr. Perdus
and others who voted against IL, motion
10 reconsider was carried and Mr.. Pulliam
invited 10 uddres, the Council. This gea-
tleuan first impressed his auditors wthtne
! fact that these local assessments VIII be
annual, and proceeded to demonstrate
| from his standpoint that the working
of the ordinance would be entirely
practicable; thar there would be no
more difficulty experienced In COLI
lecting or paying the taxes for the eros,
| than for the other streets. lie closed MS
argument, which was listened to very at
| tentyely, by appealing to the Council TO
| adoLt tie ordinance. Manchester, he said,
| has increased in population during recent
wears rs rapidly ~ most cities, her debt
i small, and there is no reason why
.he should no, take this step to
nut her streets in good condition. As it is,
her streets are no bettcrthan they were one
hundred years asO. Before any city en-
take great strides in progress it must have
GOOD streGs, water, and light. He hoped
the Council would adopt tue measure an
| not give the city another dose oi laudanum.
from the effects OF which she might never
recover.
MR.. PERDUE, AGAIN.
Mr.. Perdue again opposed the section.
| No one more than he wanted the streets
| payed. He was as closely identified with
| the city as any man in il, and mad never
| felt ashamed OF the place OF his nativity.
| When he goes from home he always regl--
ters from Manchester-a thing, he Ia |
learned, some OF his fellow-lnen did not
| alwavs do. Mr.. Perdue had no desire to
! Kill The ordinance; he only wanted 1t per-
! fected. 4 recess Of ten minutes was taken
for conference.
ANOTHER MEETING ORDERED.
Vpon reAssembling Mr.. c. a. JOne,
moved that when the Council adjourn it
be TO meet again next Friday night.
Mr.. Weisiger moved to substitute Mon
day Tor Friday night. Agreed to.
WOULD VOTE FOR 1T.
Mr.. Perdue desired to impress upon The
| Council the fact that he was In favor Of The o.
| dinauee as a whole, but thought it impcr-
feet. II this section could not be remedied,
and he bad no doubt that 1t could, be
would vote for the ordinance with this IN
II, A number Of citizens had threatened 10
give the Council trouble II this measure
we're adopted. He did not believe thi,
could be done, yet he thought the wishes ol
the people should be respected. Some OF
the members present had said that unless
the ordinance was adopted then they would
never vote for it. He deplored that any
one should take such position. II they
were public.spirited men they would clin
on until the end had been reached.
TOO HARD on THE POOR.
The colored councilman, Hewlett, said
in explaining his position, that he was op
po,ed TO the whole ordinance. He wanted
nayements, but thought II would worh
great hardship on the poor TO have 70 bus
n house and lot and then TO have 10 pay fol
a street to walk on. He thought the city
should bear the expense at least OF putting
down the cutters and curbing, If not Ol
paving the sidewalks. The practical result
~ this measure would be TO increase the
taxes that can hardly be borne now,- and iu
the twenty five years half Of the property
owners Of the city would be sold out.
BEST MEASURE OFFERED.
Mr.. Bradley warmly advocated the mea'
sure as il stood, and in so doing made prac
tical. sensible speech. The time had come
| A. ,,.ootfaa 81 enandfun tho aifv,.